The morning’s church service was invigorating and helped Nell focus on all the blessings she had received in her life. She realized she had the rest of the day ahead of her without any plans. How wonderful! Nell chose to spend the day continuing to think about the positive aspects of her life, not worrying about something that might just be made up in her mind.
She had put clothes in the washer and just started to read the Sunday paper when the phone rang.
“Hello.” Nell saw from the caller ID it was Elena.
“Hi, Nell. How are you?”
“Great! I’ve decided I’m making more out of this Northwoodsman thing than it deserves.” Nell went on to tell Elena about the two instances where she thought a man coming in her direction was Northwoodsman. “It was so cute, Elena. This man was just interested in George. I had his coming toward me all blown up into some sort of potential confrontation. He was only looking for a dog that doesn’t shed for his wife.”
“I’m not trying to rain on your parade, Nell, but if he was Northwoodsman, what a good cover that would make,” Elena disagreed. “He could get close to you because he was interested in your dog. Dog owners are notorious for talking about their pets. I bet if you see him again, you’ll be completely unguarded and speak to him freely. He could walk right up and hurt you.”
Nell couldn’t believe what Elena was saying to her. She hadn’t even enjoyed twenty-four hours of peace. “Thanks, Elena. Thanks a lot. My stress level has just shot up again.”
“I’m sorry. That was the first thing I thought of as you told me about the dog guy.”
“Of course you’re right. I should’ve thought of it myself,” Nell admitted. “I need to follow the old standby from the books I read, ‘trust no one’ and then I’ll be better off.”
“The main reason I called was to see what you thought of the weapon used in the Nell Norton murder.”
“They announced it? I didn’t watch the news last night or this morning and just started to look at the paper. I was clearing my mind. What was it?”
“A meat cleaver,” said Elena.
“Oh, my gosh!” Nell shrieked. “That gives me the total creeps, especially being a kitchen utensil and being food-related.”
“Unfortunately, that’s what I found interesting, too. That may have been why I jumped on your theory about the dog guy. If this murder is food-related, there’s more of a possibility that it is related to you.”
“Poor Nell Norton. She was such a friendly woman. Could you imagine being killed with a meat cleaver?” And then it really set in. “That could’ve been me, Elena. This is terrible.”
Nell stood up and started to pace her living room. “Either one of those guys I saw yesterday could be suspects. I need to get off the phone, Elena, and take some time to get my wits together.”
“Okay, Nell, and I’m so sorry I was the one to tell you the bad news.”
“I appreciate you’re a good enough friend to tell me things I don’t want to hear. I know you have my best interest at heart. Thanks.”
All Nell’s positive, happy thoughts from this morning had disappeared like a tray of cinnamon rolls in the teachers’ lounge. There was no local news on television right now, so she picked the morning’s paper back up and searched for any information about the murder. Sure enough:
Investigators announced the weapon used by the perpetrator in the killing of Nell Norton in Wausaukee. A meat cleaver was found sticking out of the middle of her chest. The weapon has been taken by the Wausau Crime Lab to be dusted for fingerprints. According to Mr. Norton, the cleaver did not belong to the victim. No word yet on whether they have a suspect.
That shook Nell. Maybe it was time she went to the police. She needed to eat something. She knew she had chips in the pantry and cream cheese in the fridge. That would soothe her frazzled nerves.
Nell made a dip she remembered from her childhood, and it was comforting. To her, it tasted like love on a chip. Once again she had succumbed to nervous eating, but right now she really needed her food crutch.
Even though Sam hadn’t called her since he was here Friday night, Nell thought she would contact him. Benita may have given him some names or he may have come up with some ideas of his own.
“Hello, Sam’s Slam.”
“Hi, Sam. This is Nell.”
“Nell, I was planning on calling you tonight. I want to thank you for that wonderful meal and to see how you’re doing.”
“You’re welcome. I know you watch the news at the bar. Did you happen to notice that the murder weapon used was a meat cleaver?” Nell asked anxiously. “And something else was interesting, too.”
“I did,” responded Sam. “Rather grisly.”
“Yes, and also that the weapon is a kitchen utensil and related to food stood out to me.”
I’ve been thinking about that, too.” There was a short pause and then he mentioned softly. “I’ve walked back to my office so no one can hear me. I know a man who owns a bar in Wausaukee. I thought maybe we could take a ride up there and nonchalantly see if he’s heard anything.”
“That’s a great idea, Sam,” Nell readily agreed. “When do you want to go?”
“How about tomorrow? Mondays are slow here. It would be easy to get away. I could pick you up about 3:00. We could talk to Chet for a bit and either stay there to eat supper or go to another spot in town.”
“Super. Thanks, Sam. Thanks so much.”
There was a big smile on Nell’s face as she hung up the phone. Trying to avoid her own murder, and yet thinking, “Is this a date?”